Independent candidate for governor Gatewood Galbraith had some harsh words for Gov. Steve Beshear, saying the governor’s refusal to stand with President Barack Obama was totally unacceptable in a statement recently.

“He wasn’t reluctant to do it. He snubbed it,” Galbraith said. “He said he would rather stand down there in a group of potential business people for the state at the Kentucky Oaks, than show up at Fort Campbell and pay homage to those very special men who carried off this assault on (Osama) bin Laden.” (see the 5:00 mark of the clip)

Galbraith, who is running with marketing consultant Dea Riley, said he hopes to raise $500,000 for the fall election. That slate must collect 5,000 signatures by August to get on the ballot to face Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and his lieutenant governor candidate Jerry Abramson and the Republican ticket of Senate President David Williams and Richie Farmer.

Galbraith said he knows he will be heavily outspent by the other tickets but said the $500,000 he thinks he can raise will be enough. He said he’s raised about $150,000 at this point.

“It doesn’t make any difference how much money he has to spend if your vote isn’t for sale,” Galbraith said. “We need 450,000 votes to win the race this time.” (see the 8:15 mark of the clip)

Galbraith said he was happy with the results of the primary election, in which Williams beat Louisville businessman Phil Moffett for the GOP nomination. Galbraith said he would rather face Williams than Moffett even though Williams is better known and was better funded.

“Of course Mr. Williams won that with a stiff challenge from Mr. Moffett. We wanted Williams to win that because we thought he would make an easier candidate for us to face than Mr. Moffett would have,” Galbraith said. (see the :55 mark of the clip)

He also explained why he thought four years of a Williams administration would lead to more gridlock in Frankfort and why he believed little would get done during four more years of Beshear at the helm: